---
title: Gastroenterologists Now Get the Highest Average Starting Salary
description: Orthopedic surgeons, who led for four years, dropped to $507,000, while the average signing bonus offered to doctors rose 29% to $49,306.
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-10-28T10:26:09.399Z
updated: 2026-10-28T10:34:56.650Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/how-much-do-gastroenterologists-make-starting-salary
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/pexels-medical-professionals-prepare-for-surgery-in-a-hospital-oper-11661531.jpg
categories: Healthcare Careers 
content_type: News
region: United States
publication: Rich Health Magazine
access: members
schema_type: Article
---

Gastroenterologists are now offered the highest average starting salary of the physician specialties AMN Healthcare tracks, $654,000, according to the recruiting firm's 2026 review of physician recruiting incentives. Their average offer rose from $552,000 a year earlier, and they moved past orthopedic surgeons, who had led AMN's list in each of the previous four years and whose average starting salary fell 12% to $507,000.

The average starting salary AMN recorded for all physicians is $419,000, up from $403,000 last year. AMN recruits doctors and other clinicians for hospitals and medical groups, and its figures come from a representative sample of the 1,293 permanent physician and advanced practitioner searches it ran between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. The figures are averages from AMN's own searches, not a national survey of physician pay.

## Every One of the 10 Highest Starting Offers Went to a Specialist

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